Canon 77D versus Canon 6D Mark II

The Canon EOS 77D and the Canon EOS 6D Mark II are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in February 2017 and June 2017. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (77D) and a full frame (6D Mark II) sensor. The 77D has a resolution of 24 megapixel, whereas the 6D Mark II provides 26 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their size, their sensors, their features, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Canon 77D vs Canon 6D Mark II

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 77D and the Canon 6D Mark II is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. You can also use the toggle button to switch to a percentage comparison if you prefer that the measures are being expressed in relative terms (in this case, the camera on the left – the 77D – represents the basis or 100 percent across all the size and weight measures).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Canon 6D Mark II is notably larger (22 percent) than the Canon 77D. Moreover, the 6D Mark II is substantially heavier (42 percent) than the 77D. It is noteworthy in this context that the 6D Mark II is splash and dust-proof, while the 77D does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor (as in the 6D Mark II) will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses,
while more compact options are available for the smaller-sensor camera (77D).
You can find a comprehensive overview of suitable optics in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 77D gets 600 shots out of its LP-E17 battery,
while the 6D Mark II can take 1200 images on a single charge of its LP-E6N power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The 77D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 55 percent) than the 6D Mark II, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison: Canon 77D vs Canon 6D Mark II

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 77D features an APS-C sensor and the Canon 6D Mark II
a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the 6D Mark II is 160 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 26MP, the 6D Mark II offers a higher
resolution than the 77D (24MP), but the 6D Mark II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of
5.76μm versus 3.72μm for the 77D) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the 6D Mark II is a somewhat more recent model (by 4 months) than the 77D, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the 6D Mark II has a markedly higher DXO score than the 77D (overall score 7 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 0.8 bits higher color depth, 1.4 EV of lower dynamic range, and 1.6 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

Feature comparison: Canon 77D vs Canon 6D Mark II

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 77D and the 6D Mark II are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder.
The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 77D, the Canon 6D Mark II, and comparable cameras. If you need more detail on the specs, you can find comprehensive listings, for example, in the dpreview camera hub.

Both the 77D and the 6D Mark II are current models that good online retailers will have in stock. You can check the latest prices, for example,
at amazon. The 77D replaced the earlier Canon T6s, while the 6D Mark II followed on from the Canon 6D.

Review summary: Canon 77D vs Canon 6D Mark II

So how do things add up? Is the Canon 77D better than the Canon 6D Mark II or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 6D Mark II:

Longer lasting: Gets more shots (1200 versus 600) out of a single battery charge.

Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.

More modern: Was introduced somewhat (4 months) more recently.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the 77D comes out slightly ahead of the 6D Mark II (6 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera.

77D 06:05 6D Mark II

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 77D or the 6D Mark II handle or perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The detailed reviews can be accessed by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when refering to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

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